December 9, 2025
Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. (knee) has been diagnosed with a sprained MCL and is "expected to miss some time," according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The 24-year-old has made 12 starts for Arizona this season and is generally considered one of the better players at his position in the NFL. Pro Football Focus has Johnson Jr. graded as the 19th-best tackle out of 82 qualified players so far in 2025. If he is forced to miss time, second-year tackle Demontrey Jacobs would likely take over as the starter in Arizona. Johnson Jr.'s injury is particularly bad timing for the Cardinals as they prepare to take on the fearsome Houston Texans' pass rush in Week 15. Fantasy managers may be wise to downgrade Cardinals quarterback
Jacoby Brissett for Week 15 if Johnson Jr. is ruled out.
--Will BradySource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
December 9, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Jalen McMillan (neck) was spotted at practice on Tuesday, according to Greg Auman of Fox Sports. McMillan was listed as a limited practice participant on Monday's injury report ahead of Tampa Bay's Week 15 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. The 24-year-old has yet to play in 2025 after suffering a neck injury in the preseason that led to him being placed on Injured Reserve. Across 13 games as a rookie in 2024, McMillan recorded 37 catches for 461 yards and eight touchdowns on 58 targets. Upon his return, McMillan will join a crowded wide receiver room in Tampa Bay that includes
Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin, and could also be getting back veteran
Mike Evans (collarbone) in Week 15. Given his long injury layoff and Tampa Bay's wealth of pass-catching options, McMillan may see limited playing time in 2025.
--Will BradySource: Fox Sports - Greg Auman
December 9, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Mike Evans (collarbone) was spotted at practice on Tuesday, according to Greg Auman of Fox Sports. The veteran wideout has been on Injured Reserve since Week 7 with a broken collarbone, but he practiced in a limited capacity on Monday and was apparently on the field in some capacity on Tuesday. Evans could make his return in his team's Week 15 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. Multiple injuries have limited Evans to just four games so far in 2025. Across those contests, he's recorded 14 catches for 140 yards and a touchdown on 32 targets. While Evans would likely re-assume his WR1 status in Tampa Bay upon his return, the Buccaneers could choose to work him in slowly, given his extended absence. Fantasy managers should check back throughout the week to see if he's able to get in a full practice before Thursday.
--Will BradySource: Fox Sports - Greg Auman
December 9, 2025
Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback
Riley Leonard (knee) has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 PCL sprain, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Leonard was forced into action in Week 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars after Colts QB1
Daniel Jones (Achilles) suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon. Leonard completed 18 of 29 pass attempts for 145 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception against Jacksonville. With Leonard's status in doubt, Jones sidelined, and quarterback Anthony Richardson (eye) on Injured Reserve, the Colts are bringing 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers in for a workout on Tuesday. Journeyman signal-caller
Brett Rypien would be the only competition for Rivers if the Colts bring him out of retirement and Leonard is not healthy enough to play. While Leonard would likely be the team's preferred option, this knee injury may force Indianapolis to resort to desperate measures.
--Will BradySource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
December 9, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals running back
Samaje Perine has had a meaningful role in the offense over the past two weeks, playing 38.5% of the snaps while handling 20 carries for 70 yards with three receptions (three targets) for 20 yards. However, he's been firmly behind starter
Chase Brown, who has played 62.9% of the snaps with 27 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown while adding 10 catches for 47 yards and another touchdown on 11 targets. Perine is a trusted veteran in pass protection and has familiarity with the Bengals offense, so he should maintain a healthy role behind Brown. His usage would tick up if Brown were to miss time, but his current value is just limited to deeper formats as a handcuff.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 9, 2025
Across 13 games this season, San Francisco 49ers running back
Brian Robinson Jr. has recorded 72 carries for 328 yards and two touchdowns. While Robinson Jr. has been efficient with his touches, the 26-year-old has not recorded more than nine carries or 53 rushing yards in any game. As long as star 49ers running back
Christian McCaffrey remains healthy, Robinson Jr. will stay in a supporting role. However, if McCaffrey were to suffer an injury, Robinson Jr. would immediately vault into being a must-start fantasy running back. As the fantasy season winds to a close, Robinson Jr.'s lack of standalone value is less important. In all leagues with 12 or more teams, Robinson Jr. should be a waiver wire target heading into his Week 15 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 9, 2025
Baltimore Ravens running back
Keaton Mitchell (knee) left Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a knee injury, but his MRI results came back clean, and his knee injury is considered minor, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports. It's positive news for the speedy running back, and it seems he will avoid missing any time. Mitchell was in the midst of his best game of the season before leaving on Sunday, posting six carries for 76 yards, including a 55-yard rush. With
Justice Hill (neck) on Injured Reserve, the 23-year-old has seen his opportunities increase behind
Derrick Henry, though
Rasheen Ali continues to be used on passing downs as well. Mitchell remains one of the higher upside handcuff options in fantasy football and should be stashed on benches just in case.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Jeremy Fowler
December 9, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Marcus Mariota has started six games in place of
Jayden Daniels this season and has mostly played very well. Mariota entered Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings after Daniels aggravated his previously dislocated left elbow after an interception in the third quarter. The veteran also couldn't get anything going for Washington's offense, as he threw an interception on his second pass of the game and later lost a fumble on a rushing attempt. There are plenty of questions around Daniels' availability for Week 15's divisional matchup against the New York Giants. Head coach Dan Quinn said on Monday that Daniels is "sore," but there aren't any long-term concerns, and his status will be monitored throughout the week. For what it's worth, Daniels was listed on the schedule for his weekly media availability on Wednesday, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. Mariota would immediately re-enter the conversation as a high-end QB2 in fantasy football if Daniels is ultimately unable to go this weekend.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 9, 2025
Carolina Panthers quarterback
Bryce Young had his most efficient game of the season before the bye against the Los Angeles Rams. He completed 15 of 20 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns while adding five carries for 23 yards as a runner in the upset win. Young will be looking to put together a consistent stretch of quality games, something he has struggled with this season and throughout his career. Notably, in the week after his career-high 448 passing yards in Week 11 against the Atlanta Falcons, he followed it up with two interceptions and only 169 passing yards against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick still sits as a low-end QB2 most weeks, and he has a tough matchup in Week 15 against a New Orleans Saints defense that hasn't allowed a 200-yard passer in four straight games.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 9, 2025
New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback
Tyler Shough rushed for two touchdowns in Sunday's 24-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and completed 13 of 20 passes for 144 yards with an interception while adding seven carries for 55 yards. It wasn't Shough's best day as a passer, but he made some big-time plays with his legs, including a 34-yard score in the third quarter, before adding a 13-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to give the Saints the lead for good. The rookie second-rounder has shown real flashes in his five starts and firmly belongs in the QB2 discussion moving forward for fantasy football. In Week 15, the 26-year-old faces a Carolina Panthers team that he already beat back in Week 10, when he completed 19 of 27 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns. It may not be as easy the second time he faces them, but Shough is worth adding and starting in superflex formats.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 9, 2025
Minnesota Vikings quarterback
J.J. McCarthy led his team to a 31-0 rout of the Commanders in Week 14 in a triumphant return from injury. He threw for 163 yards and three touchdowns in the win while adding 19 rushing yards on six carries as well. McCarthy completed 16 of his 23 pass attempts in one of his best performances of the season. This week, he'll be in a tougher matchup on the road against the Cowboys, but even though Dallas's defense has shown potential, they're still giving up a lot of points. The Vikings have a favorable few weeks ahead, so McCarthy can be an interesting play if you need a second QB for the rest of the season. His rushing potential and good pass-catching weapons give him good upside, even though he has struggled to reach his high ceiling throughout his first year as the team's starter.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
December 9, 2025
New England Patriots running back
Rhamondre Stevenson missed three weeks with a toe injury, allowing rookie
TreVeyon Henderson to go off and become a fantasy star. Stevenson played two games before the team's bye week, though, and he still clearly has a significant role in the offense. In Week 13 against the Giants, he outsnapped Henderson 38-to-32, and he took 12 carries for 40 yards, while adding 40 more yards on three catches. Stevenson still seems to be the preferred short-yardage option, and he also showed he can be involved as a receiver. He'll be in about an even timeshare with Henderson coming back from the bye week in a solid matchup against the Bills. Both backs remain touchdown-dependent, but they have enough upside to be worth owning in all formats, since the Patriots have a fairly favorable schedule the rest of the season. While he doesn't have the home-run potential of Henderson, Stevenson is a nice waiver wire option if someone bailed on him too early in your league.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
December 9, 2025
New York Giants tight end
Theo Johnson will return from his team's bye week and look to continue his solid season, working as one of the top targets for
Jaxson Dart. Johnson has at least three catches in seven straight games and has totaled 42 catches for 456 yards and five touchdowns in his 13 games this season. He matched his season high with eight targets against the Patriots in his most recent game before the bye week, and he has established a solid rapport with Dart, which makes him one of the best widely available tight end plays in most leagues. Johnson hasn't hit 100 yards in any game yet, but he has posted at least 75 yards in two of his last four games, showing he has a good ceiling to go with his solid PPR floor. The Giants have a favorable schedule the rest of the season, starting this week with a home game against the struggling Commanders.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
December 9, 2025
Cleveland Browns wide receiver
Jerry Jeudy has proven he can have massive games in the past, and the first-round pick had one of his best games of the season in Week 14 against the Titans. He only had three catches but racked up 76 yards and a long touchdown from
Shedeur Sanders, who looked like a solid QB for the rest of the year. Sanders throws the deep ball well, and if he connects more often with Jeudy, the receiver could be a nice add for the fantasy football playoffs. Jeudy has shown a very high ceiling, and he may now have a QB who can connect with him to make big plays. His season-long numbers are still not very impressive, but he and Sanders are trending up coming into their matchup this week with the Bears, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
December 9, 2025
Chicago Bears running back
Kyle Monangai is getting enough work to be a solid pickup from the waiver wire if you need running back help this week. Against the Packers in Week 14, Monangai played 29 snaps (41%) and finished with a team-high 14 carries for 57 yards while adding one catch for no yards as well. He didn't find the end zone this week, snapping a four-game scoring streak. He has gotten double-digit carries in four straight games and is splitting work just about evenly with starting running back
D'Andre Swift. Monangai and the Bears face a tough Browns defense this week, but
Tony Pollard just had a huge game against them last week, so there's still enough upside in playing Monangai that he should be owned in almost all formats as one of the top second running backs in the league.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
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